City replacing 'red water' pipes

City of St. Augustine work crews have targeted Lincolnville recently — with other neighborhoods, such as Davis Shores and Lighthouse Park, coming next — to replace galvanized steel or cast-iron pipes installed in the early 1900s that now leak dissolved rust and scale into drinking water.

City Manager John Regan said Thursday that the city has accepted responsibility for cleaning up what is called “red water” and that the City Commission on Monday will consider refunding a bond issue to raise cash.

“We’ve been very aggressive taking advantage of financial markets,” Regan said. “By refunding utility bonds at a lower rate and keeping our payments constant, we can create money. Red water is one of the most important things that affect the quality of life for residents.”

Replacing all 200 miles of water pipes in the city is estimated to cost $10.2 million and take five to 10 years.

That kind of money isn’t sitting around, but officials have used their financial finesse to clear $4 million from a recent refunding of a bond issue, refinancing it at a lower rate.

The city already had $3 million to $5 million set aside for these projects.

The Public Works Department plan summary on the city’s website said the department is “working to identify water main improvements that shall be designed and constructed using bond monies acquired in 2011 and 2012.”

Martha Graham, director of public works, said Thursday that the plan was developed and publicized so “everyone would know where we’re (working) and when.”

In Lincolnville, a 1,350-foot water main is being replaced along Washington Street from Lovett Street to Duero Street; 1,250 feet on Duero Street from Washington Street to Riberia Street; 900 feet from Oneida Street to DeHaven Street and 1,350 feet along Oneida Street from Lovett Streetto Duero Street.

Graham said, “We’re kind of lucky in Florida because of our sandy soil and no freezing. We can put pipe in the ground much shallower than they can in New York.”

City Archaeologist Carl Halbirt said all the projects will be done over a long period and he should be able to work in his archaeological examinations with the other projects he has going.

Some sites will require open trenches where he can explore freely, he said. Other sites, however, will be done by a directional bore underground or by “pipe bursting,” when a new pipe is slipped inside an old pipe, breaking it apart.

Halbirt said that within a week he’ll be investigating a trench line on Lighthouse Avenue and expects to find prehistoric and historic areas of occupation.

Regan said there’s a lot of city repair work being done around the city.

“There aren’t many cities that we’ve seen that has done so much without raising taxes of the utility rate,” he said. “We’re on the move all the time, looking for the best financial options.”

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